New York's new gun control law includes a broad privacy provision that could sharply limit what the public can discover about people with gun permits.
The measure was part of the reaction to a map published by The Journal News that pinpointed the names and addresses of pistol permit holders in two counties. The newspaper removed that information from its website Friday.
The law allows permit applicants to ask that their personal information be kept secret for any of several reasons. Applicants can claim simply that they fear they might be harassed.
Support in the news industry for The Journal News had been lukewarm and the provision was approved with little opposition. News industry experts say it was an overreaction.
One lawmaker who opposed the provision says he is hoping for a "cleanup amendment."
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